111916: Is it permissible for a traveller to join two prayers sometimes and not at other times?

Is it permissible for a traveller to join two prayers together sometimes and not join them at other times?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The Sunnah indicates that it is permissible for a traveller
to join prayers. Muslim (705) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) joined Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’, in
Madeenah when there was no fear and no rain. [According to another report:
and no travelling.]: It was said to Ibn ‘Abbaas: Why did he do that? He
said: So that his ummah would not be subjected to hardship

When Ibn ‘Abbaas said that he joined the prayer despite the
absence of these three things – travelling, fear and rain – that indicates
that they are known reasons for joining prayers. What Ibn ‘Abbaas (may
Allaah be pleased with him) meant was that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) joined prayers for a reason other than
these three.

It is permissible for the traveller to join prayers, or to
offer each prayer at its own time, as he wishes, but it is better for the
traveller not to join prayers unless it will be too difficult for him to
offer the prayers at their own times.

Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) did not join prayers on all his journeys, rather he joined them
sometimes and sometimes he did not join them. Some scholars are of the view
that it is not permissible for the traveller to join his prayers unless he
is on the road, but if he has made a stop then it is not permissible for him
to join them.

But the correct view is that it is permissible for the
traveller to join prayers whether he is on the move or has made a stop. It
is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
joined prayers during the campaign to Tabook when he had made a stop.
Narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawood; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (164).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) quoted
some of the ahaadeeth which indicate that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) joined prayers whilst travelling when he
had made a stop, then he said:

The apparent meaning of these ahaadeeth is that he used to
join prayers when he had made a stop. That was either to show that it is
permissible, or because there was a need to join prayers, because the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not join his
prayers during Hajj when he stopped at Mina.

Based on that, we say: It is better for the traveller who has
made a stop not to join prayers, but if he does join his prayers there is
nothing wrong with it. But if he needs to join his prayers, either because
he is too tired and needs to rest, or because it is too hard to find water
every time, and so on, then it is better for him to join them, and avail
himself of the concession. End quote from the essay Mawaaqeet al-Salaah.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The traveller who has made a stop has the choice: if he
wishes he may join the prayers at the time of the later prayer or at the
time of the earlier prayer. But it is better for him to offer each prayer at
its proper time, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) did in Mina during the Farewell Hajj. He offered every prayer at its
proper time because he was staying there. But if there is a need to join
prayers, there is nothing wrong with it, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) joined prayers during the campaign to
Tabook when he made a stop. End quote.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz
(12/281, 282)

Based on this, the traveller has the choice between joining
prayers or doing each prayer at its own time, but it is better for him not
to join prayers unless it is too difficult for him to offer each prayer at
its own time.

But, it should be noted that prayer in congregation is
obligatory for the traveller and it is not permissible for him to join
prayers and pray alone.